I find the sermons in church sometimes make me very throughtful for the rest of the day. I think that's what they are meant to do. Not just listen quietly, leave quickly, and head to Arby's.
As I sit in church, I often wonder what My H would think of the sermon, not that I'd ever get him in the doors. Your thread has told me what in some respects what I already knew. Selective listening. Toddlers are wonderful at it. So are MLC'rs.